Automatic shaft coupling



Spt. 16, 1930.

P. J. THOMAS AUTOMATIC SHAFT COUPLING Filed Feb. 10. 1930 6 Shoots-Sheet 1 Paul . 9 m a u MON 0T m h T o J. J l

Sept. 16, 1930. P. J. THOMAS 1,115,141

AUTOMATIC SHAFT COUPLING Filed Feb. 10, 1930 6 Shoots-Shoot 2 E'Lul eph mas INVENTOR;

Attorney.

Sept. p J. THOMAS AUTOMATIC SHAFT COUPLING Fi led Feb. 10, 19:50 6 Shoots-Sheet s MAMNW lllllmm 179.4 i I 0 7 63 J PCWI Tose pk THOMO S mvzNT a 7 Sept. 16, 1930. P. J. THOMAS AUTOIATIG SHAFT 'CQUPLIHG 6 Sheds-shoot 4 Filed Feb. 10. 1930 Fiufl Toseph-Thoma VENTOR; L

"an fittomoy I f /4 'm Sept. 16, 1930. P. J. THOMAS 1,775,741

Aurolumc SHAP'I cournma I Filod i'eb. 10, 1930 6 Sheets-Shoot 5 P l Tose h Thoma;

INVENTOR;

9w Attorney.

% I I I, 47 H Sept. 16, 1930. P. J. THOMAS 1,775,741

AUTOIATIC SHAFTCOUPLING Filed Feb. 10, 1930 6 Shanta-Sheet 6 Fly. 2

P l Joseph Thomas QN'VENTOR? Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT 0mm "rA UL Josnrn rrro vms, or NARBONNE, ERA-non fAU'roMArIo snar conrnme Application filed February 10; 1930, Seriallh. 427,250, and in France February 1:5 1929.

The object of the present-invention is to effect the entrainment of a driven. member after a certain range of lost motion of a drivmg member.

Another object of the present invention is to transmit the rotary movement of a driv' 1 ing shaft to a driven shaft by a coupl ng con- 7 tr vance acting automatically under the infiuence of'centrifuga-l force.

An automatic'coupling contrivance enabling the above objects to be attained has the features set forth in the following description and defined in the claims annexed "to the end thereof.

The preferred form .of the invention is illustrated ,Way of example on the accompanying drawings, in Wl11Cl1Z trivance along the-broken line 22-2-0f Fig.1.. ,g

3 is a1vieiv showing the arrangement J Fig. l-isan elevation of a coupling con- .trivanc e according tojthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section'of this conof the gears Withinthe casing. 'Flg. 4 1s a'. 'transverse section ofa cover alongithe line of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5,6 and-7 are respectively an elevatioh. a side elevation anda transverse section "of check plates assembled to form the casin .Figs. 8 :andQ areapla'n and alongitudinal section along; the line 9-9 ofFig. 8, of a block.

Figs. 10 and 11 are anelevation and a plan.

of the shaft of a planet wheelj 2 lEigsflQend 13am ane'levatlon and side vie iv of a cross for the assemblage of'plan'et heels.

The. driving shaft 1 and driven shaft 2 are mountedfreely in a coupling contrivance 3 ,constltutedin the following manner:

'Twolrotary cheek plates 9.4 5 to are connected together by transverse screw 5. The aSsembla eofthese tvvo cheek v i l') i r plates thus forms a'casing Within Which are located on the one hand the driving shaft 1 at the end of Which is keyed a first sun Wheel,

6, and onthe other handthe driven shaft wheel 7 2 at the end oflwhich is keyed a second sun Between the sun Wheels 6 and fkeyed respectively oneach ofthe shafts 1 and 2 are, I V

interposed sets of planet wh l arranged in the following ma I As can be seen more particularly in F ig. 3, two sets of planet Wheels comprising each an external planet Wheel 55 of a diameter d and Wheel 6 of the driving shaft.

All these planet Wheels are mountedon one and the same central cross 4 0 (Figs. 12 and 13) this cross 40 has on the onehand limbs {1 ,412 41 41 on'which the setsofplanet ivhe-els are centered and on the other hand it has a bore 42 in which turns the extremity of the driving shaft 1,- hilst the sun Wheel 7 of the driven shaft 2 is likewise centered on a lateral limb 42 of this cross 40 (Fig. 2).

On the casing formed the cheek plates 4 l are fixed the blocks 12 12 512 12 (Fig. 1) in which are mounted the shafts of the planet Wheels; these blocks havea'square base (F1gs. 7 and 9) and are fixed at their cornersby screws 18, thesescrews engage in purpose on'the body of the cheek plates 4 JP; ashoulder 15fhr1ned at the lower portion of the block 12 engages in a ob -respondin socket 16 formed in the c'heek alates 4.

. lFtnus ensuring the centeringbf thebloch reljatively to the rotary cheek plates l 4 "screw-threaded holes l l providedforthis 1 Th sun wheels 6 and 7 as Well as the planet Wheels are mounted preferably in the casing a by the aid of ball bearings 9, these ball bearings bearing against abutments formed in the cheek plates & 4. constituting thecasing (Fig.2). v p v Each setof planet Wheels 55 55 or each planet Wheel 78 driven by the sun Wheel 6 of thedriving shaft drives a shaft 22 Which turns with such planet Wheel butpwhich can slide relatively thereto along-its longitudinal axis. j

For this purpose the shaft the planet wheel ends in a square 22 by which it engages in a hollow of the same section provided in the body of the planet wheel (Fig. 2).

The shaft 22 has a recessed form forming a head. This shaft 22 has an external coni cal surface 28, the apex of the cone being located outwardly. This surface is in engagement with conical rollers 21- arranged as a. crown in each block 12.

Each block 12 receives for this purpose a ring 75 having a conical internal surface presenting a shoulder 76. The rollers rest on this shoulder 76 and are maintained by an applied washer 77. A screwthreaded plug 36 clamps the whole in the block 12.

The conical shaft 22 is urged towards its planet wheel by a spring 37 threaded over a prolongation 22 of the shaft 22, such spring bearing against the base of the plug 36.

The end 22 of the shaft 22traverses the plug 36 for the purpose explained later.

Finally a cap 80 fixed by screws 81 closes the extremity of each block 12 12 A safety device controlled externally by the mechanician is likewise provided on the preceding contrivance; this is constituted as follows:

Each block 12 12 12 12*- has a guide groove in which a rod 61 slides, urged by a returning spring 62; this rod operates by a crank 68, a shaft 64L engaged in the head of the block and carrying an actuating finger 65 capable of coming into engagement with the end of the shaft 22 of the planet wheels.

The operating rod 61 urged by its spring 62 acts on the crank 63 in such'manner that the actuating finger 65 disengages itself from the end of the shaft 22 and allows it freedom of movement.

All the rods 61 located on all of the blocks 12, 12 are actuated by a single control.

For this purpose the end of the rod 61 is articulated by the intermediary of a set of links 66 66 66 on the internal annulus 67 of a ball thrust bearing 67 67 I This annulus 67 67 is normally thrust in the direction of the arrow 68 by springs 76 on pins 69 arranged around the border of the casing 4. I

A. clutch fork 71 sliding on the shaft 2 can come into engagementwith the annulus 67 by the action of an external member operated by the mechanician.

The coupling contrivance 8 of the shafts 1 and 2 being thus constituted, its operation is as follows:

When the driving shaft 1 is set in motion it carries withit in its rotation its sun wheel 6. This latter drives the whole coupling contrivance 3 by means of the external planet wheels 555 7 8 which are in engagementwith the sun wheel 6. The driven shaft 2 which offers a certain resistance to the rotation remains still on the setting in motion of the driving shaft 1. The planet wheels 55 turning with their shaft 22 roll on the sun wheel 7 of the driven shaft 2.

In consequence of the difference of diameter between the two planet wheels 55 55 it follows that the driving effect of the shaft 1 is multiplied while the resistance offered by the driven shaft 2 is on the contrary demultiplied.

It results from this that the drive of the casing 3 will be so much the more spontaneous and more rapid the greater the difference between D and (Z.

Under the action of centrifugal force the shafts 22 tend to move away from their planet wheels while compressing their springs 37.

.Vhen this force is sufficiently great to overcome the resistance opposed by the springs 37, the shafts 22 become more and moreprogressively wedged by their conical portions 23 in the ring of conical rollers 24 in accordance with the acceleration of motion. The complete wedging of the shafts 22 in relation to the rollers 24 causes at such moment the rotation of the driven shaft 2 by the driving shaft 1.

In effect, the shafts 22 being wedged, they oppose the rotation of their planet wheels such that these latter which are in engagement with the sun wheels 6 and 7 thus form coupling members between these two sun wheels, coupling the shafts 1 and 2 and effecting in consequence the driving of the shaft 2 by the driving shaft 1.

As soon as the speed of rotation of the driving shaft decreases, the springs 37, compressed during the driving period, expand and bring back the shafts 22 towards their respective planet wheels, these shafts 22 then release the rollers 24 and can then turn freely with their planet wheels which roll anew on the sun wheel 7 until complete stoppage of the driving shaft 1.

On the other hand the safety device operated by the fork 71 enables the driven shaft 2 to be stopped at the desired moment without having need for this to arrest the rotation of the driving shaft 1. Its operation is as follows: 7

Normally the springs 70 thrust the pins 69 in the direction of the arrow 68; the links 66 drawn by the annulus 67 themselves pull on the articulation of the links 66 and 66 which stand up and thrust the rods 61 in such mannor that these rods having no action on the shafts 22 of the planet wheels permit these latter to displace themselves freely and to become wedged against the rollers 24 by the action of the driving contrivance.

On the contrary if the mechanician desires to stop the driven shaft 2 whilst leaving the driving shaft 1 to turn, he operates the clutch fork 71 so that this fork 71 thrusts the outer annulus 67 in the inverse direction to 68.

By this action the toggle formed by the links 66 and 66? folds and withdraws the 'ro'ds6'1.' 3 v Under this action; the actuating finger is applied 'totheeXtremity, of the shaft 22 of the planet wheels and .disengages same from the rollers 24. I

a At this moment, the planet wheels 55 and 55 driven by the sun wheel 6 are freed relatively to the blocks '1 2 l2 and the planet wheels55 roll freely on thesun wheel f the shaft 2 which then can stop.

Claims:

1. In "an automaticooupling between a driving shaft (1) and a'dri'ven shaft (2), a

' first snn wheel fast with the driving shaft fast with the,

(1), a second sun wheel (7) driven shaft (2), planet wheels (55 55 in terposed betweenfsaid sun wheels (6, 7 a shaft (22) fast in 'rotation with said planet wheels (55 55 but capable of sliding relatively. to said planet wheels under the influence of centrifugal force, said shaft 22) having a conical external surface (23), a ring of conical rollers (24) wedging the shaft (22) en'its displacement under the action of centrifugal force, thisiarran'g'ement effecting the progressive entrainment of the driven shaft (2) by the driving shaft, (1) [in accordance .with the displacement and wedging of the vshaft (22)*under theinfluence of centrifugal force, the complete wedging'against the conical rollers (24) of the conical surface (23) of said shaft (22) corresponding to. direct engagement. between thej'driving shaft-v and the driven shaft (2).. a y r 2. In an automatic coupling between a driving shaft and 'a dri'ven shaft (2) a first sun Wheel (6) fast with the driving shaft (1), a secondsun wheel fast with the driven shaft ,"planet wheels (55 55 interposed between said sun wheels (6, 7) a mobile member (22) fastlin rotation with said planet'wheels and displaceableunder the influence of centrifugal fOI'CQJt returning member (36') bringing the mobilemember (22) back to its initial position on the influence of centrifugal force decreasing,a stop- Eingjmember (24) looking said mobile mem-V er on its displacement underthe influence of centrlfugal force, th1s arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of theydriven l to shaft (2) by the driving shaft (1,) in accordance with the displacement and locking of the mobile member (22) under the influence of centrifugalvforce, the complete locking ofsaid mobile member correspondlngrto direct en gagement between the driving'shaft (1) and thedriven shaft (2), on the contrary when the drivinglshaft (1) slows down in order to stop, the retnrninginember brings back the mobile member (22) to its initial position as soon as the influence of centrifugal forceis' "less thanfthe force opposed bysaid return ng 3. In an automatic coupling between a f driving shaft and a driven shaft (2), a

first sun wheel (6) fast with-the driving shaft 1), a second sun wheel (7) fast with the driven shaft (2), planet wheels (55 55 interposed between said sun wheels (6, 7.

'a shaft '(22) fast in rotation'withsaid planet 'wheels (55 55 butcapable of sliding relati'velyto said planet wheels under the influence of centrifugal force, a head fast with said shaft (22) and displacing therewith underthe influence of centrifugal force, a

stoppingmeinber locking said head and driving shaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), a

first sun wheel (6) fast with the driving shaft (1) a second sun wheel (7) fast with the driven shaft (2), said'second sun wheel [(7) having a diameter (6Z1) smaller than that (1)) of the first sun wheel (6), setsof two" planet wheels (55 55 also. of different diameters (D, cl), one (55 beingin engage ment with the sun wheel (6) of the driving shaft (1), the other (55 being, engagewent with the other sun wheel (7 of the driven shaft (2) simple planetwheels ('78) alternated with the sets of double planet fwheels (55 55 said simple planet wheels (78) being in engagement solely with the sun 2 wheel (6) Of the driving shaft (1), a mobile member fast in rotation with "each set of double planet wheels (55 55 and with each i set of simpleplanetwheels (78) ,said mobile member displacing under the'action of centrifugal force; stopping members (24) looking said mobile members (22) on their displacement under the influence of centrif ugal force, this arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of the drivenshaft (2) by the driving shaft (1) in accordance with the displacement and locking of the mobile members (22) under the infiuenceof centrifugal force, the complete locking of said) mobile members (22) corresponding to directengagement between the driving shaft (1)a'nd' the driven shaft 5.111 an automatic coupling between a drivingshaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), a

casing (4) constituted by two rotary cheek plates (4 4 assembled by transverse screws 2.1" I said casing (4) being mounted freely on the two'driving (1) and driven (2) shafts, blocks (12 12 'mounted onsaid casing and communicating therewith, a first sun wheel (6) fast with the driving. shaft (1) a second ll sun wheel (7) fast with the driven shaft (2), said two sun wheels being mounted respectively in the cheek plates (4 4 of said casing, planet wheels (55 interposed between said sun wheels (6, 7), saidplanet wheels being mounted likewise in said casing (4 4 mobile members (22) in engagement with the planet wheels (55 and displacing under the influence of centrifugal force in the blocks (12 12-) fast with the casing (4 4 stopping members (24) fixed in said blocks (12 12 and locking the mobile members (22) on their displacement under the influence of centrifugal force, this arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of the driven shaft (2) by the driving shaft (1) in accordance with the displacement and locking of the mobile members (22) under the influence of centrifugal force, the complete locking of said mobile members (22) corresponding to direct engagement between the driving shaft (1) and the driven shaft 6. In an automatic coupling between a driving shaft (1.) and a driven shaft (2), a casing (4) constituted by two rotary cheek plates (4 4 assembled by transverse screws said casing (4) being freely mounted on the two driving (1) and driven (2) shafts, blocks (12 12 mounted on said casing and coinmuni ating therewith, a first sun wheel (6) fast with the driving shaft (1), a second sun wheel (7 fast with the driven shaft said two sun wheels being mounted respectively in the cheek plates (4 4 of said casing, planet wheels (55 interposed between said sun wheels (6, 7), said planet wheels being mounted likewise in said casing (4 4 shafts (22) located in said blocks (12 12 fast in rotation with said planet wheels (55 55 but 02 pable of sliding relatively to said planet wheels under the influence of centrifugal force, said shafts having a conical external surface (23), of conical rollers (24) mounted in said blocks (12 12 and wedging the shafts (22) on their displacement under the influence of centrifugal force, this arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of the driven shaft (2) by the d iving shaft (1) in accordance with the displacement and wedging of the shafts (22) under the influence of centrifugal force, the complete wedging in the rings of conical rollers (24) of the conical surface of said shafts (22) corresponding to direct engagement between the driving shaft (1) and the driven shaft 7. In an automatic coupling between a driving shaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), a first sun wheel (6) fast with the driving shaft (1), a second sun wheel (7) fast with the driven shaft (2), planet wheels (55 55 interposed between said sun wheels (6, 7), a mobile member (22) fast in rotation with said planet wheels and displacing under the influence of centrifugal force, said mobile member (22) having a conical external surface, a ring of conical rollers (24) in engagement with the conical external surface of the mobile member wedging the mobile member (22) on its displacement under the influence of centrifugal force, this arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of the driven shaft (2) by the driving shaft (1) in accordance with the displacement and locking of the mobile member (22) under the influence of centrifugal force, the complete locking of said mobile member corresponding to direct engagement between the driving shaft (1) and the driven shaft (2), a shoulder (76) cooperating to hold the conical rollers (24), a fixed ring serving to support the conical rollers and having a washer (77) applied and fixed on the fixed ring said washer also cooperating to hold the conical rollers.

8. In an automatic coupling between a driving shaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), a casing (4) constituted by two rotary cheek plates (4 4 assembled by transverse screws (5), said casing (4) being freely mounted on the two driving (1) and driven (2) shafts, blocks (12 12 mounted on said casing and communicating therewith, a first sun wheel ((3) fast with the driving shaft (1), a second sun wheel (7) fast with the driven shaft (2), said two sun wheels being mounted respectively in the cheek plates (4 4) of said casing, planet wheels (55) interposed between said sun wheels (6, 7), said planet wheels being likewise mounted in said casing (4 4 shafts (22) located in said blocks (12 12 and fast in rotation with said planet wheels (55 55 butcapable of sliding relatively to said planet wheels under the influence of centrifugal force, said shafts having a conical external surface (23), rings of conical rollers 24) mounted in said blocks (12 12 and wedging the shafts (22) on their displacement under the influence of centrifugal force, returning springs (36) also located in theblocks (12 12 bringing back the shafts (22) when the influence of centrifugal force ceases, this arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of the driven shaft (2) by the driving shaft in accordance with the displacement and wedging of the shafts 22) under the influence of centrifugal force, the complete wedging in the conical rollers (24) of the conical surface (23) of said shafts (22) corresponding to direct engagement between the driving shaft (1) and the'driven shaft 2), on the contrary when the driving shaft slows down to stop, the returning spring 36) brings back the shafts (22) to their initial position as soon as the influence of centrifugal force is less than the force opposed by the returning springs r 9. In an automatic coupling between a driving shaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), a first sun wheel (6) fast with the driving shaft (1), a second sun wheel (7) fast with cross having also a bore 12) and a lateral journal (42) for centering the planet wheels and displacing under the influence of centrifugal force, stopping members (24:) locking said mobile members (22) on their displacement under the influence of centrifugal force, this arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of the driven shaft (2) by the driving shaft (1) in accordance with the displacement and locking of the mobile members (22) under the influence of centrifugal force, the complete locking of said mobile members (22) corresponding to direct engagement between the driving shaft (1) and the driven shaft s 10. In an automatic coupling between a driving shaft y and a driven shaft (2), a first sun wheel (6) fast with the driving shaft (1), a second sun wheel (7 fast with the.

driven shaft (2), planet wheels (55 55 interposed between the said sun wheels (6, 7), a mobile member (22) fast in rotation with said planet wheels and displacing under the action of centrifugal force, a stopping member (24) locking said mobilemember on 1ts displacement under the action of centrifugal force, this arrangement effecting thepro gressive entrainment of the driven shaft by the driving shaft (1) in accordance wlth the displacement and locking of the mobile member (22) under the influence of centrifugal force, the complete locking of said mobile member corresponding to direct engagement between the driving shaft (1) and the driven shaft (2), a safety member (61 operated by the mechanician and operating the mobile member in such manner as to prevent the displacement of said member under the influence of centrifugal force, the apparatus being'thus out of action, or on the contrary to free said mobile member (22) and let it act freely under the influence of centrifugal force. p a

11. In an automatic coupling between a driving shaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), a first sun wheel (6) fast with the driving shaft (1), a second sun wheel (7) fast with the driven shaft (2), planet wheels (55 55 interposed between said sun wheels (6 7), a

specification.

locking of said mobile member corresponding to dlrect engagement between the driving shaft (1) and the driven shaft (2), a safety member operated by the mechani cian, said member being constituted by a mobile disc (67 with a returning spring (7 0), an abutment finger (65) operated by said mobile disc (67 said abutment finger (65) controlling the mobile member in such manner as to prevent displacement of said mobile member under the influence of centrifugal force, the apparatus being thus out of. action, or on the contrary to free said mobile member (22) and let it act freely under theinfluence of centrifugal force. 1'

12. In'an automatic coupling between a driving shaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), a first sun wheel (6) fast with the drivin 0' shaft (1),- a second sun wheel (7) fast with the driven shaft (2), planet wheels (55 55 interposed between said sun wheels (6 7), a mobile member (22) fast in rotation with said planet wheels and displacing under themfluence of centrifugal force, a stopping member (241-) locking said mobile member on its displacement under the influence of centrifugal force, this arrangement effecting the progressive entrainment of the driven shaft (2) by the driving shaft (1) in accordance with the displacement and locking of the mobile member (22) under the influence of centrifugal force, the complete locking of said mobile member corresponding to direct engagement between the driving shaft and the driven shaft (2), a mobile disc (67 with returning springs (70) operated by the mechanician, an abutment finger (65) in engagement with the mobile member (22) of each planet Wheel, an articulated transmission (61, 66 66 interposed between the mobile disc and the abutment'finger (65), the mobile disc thus operating the mobile member in such manner either to prevent displacement of mobile member (22) and let it act freely un der the influence of centrifugal force.

In testimony whereof I have signed this PAUL JOSEPH THOMAS.

mobile member (22) fast in rotationwith said planet wheels and displacing under the influence of centrifugal force, a stopping member (24) looking said mobile member 

